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H. J. BUCK.

DOUBLE TRACK SWITCH FOR GRAVITY CARRIERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 23,1914- 1 90,1 1 91. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M/T/VFSSES mqm H. J. BUCK.

DOUBLE TRACK SWITCH FOR GRAVITY CARRIERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

H. J. BUCK.

DOUBLE TRACK SWITCH FOR GRAVITY CARRIERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 23. 1914.

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' 5 RI 5 I N) w if 6 Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

HERMAN J'. BUCK, OF ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 MATHEWS GRAVITY CARRIER COMPANY, OF ELLWOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DOUBLE-TRACK SWITCH- FOR GRAVITY-CARRIERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. ll, I916.

Application filed October 23, 1914. Serial No. 868,160.

To all u'hom'z't may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN J. BUCK, citizen of the United States, resident of Ellwood City, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Track Switches for (iravity-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in double track switches designed for application to gravity carriers, and preferably to gravity carriers of the roller type, and the object of my invention is to provide a simple double track switch by means of which articles traveling from either one of two stationary gravity carriers may be led on to either one of two other stationary carriers, thus controlling the destination of the articles- The invention consists generally in the constructions and combinations hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

'In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of a gravity carrier embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another position of the parts, Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line XX of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one end of the switch, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other end thereof.

In the drawings A, A and B, B, represent sections of stationary gravity carriers of any preferred construction. shown in the drawings only small portions of the carriers A, A, and B, B. It will be understood, however. that these carriers may be of any suitable length and may extend to any part of a building or plant in which the device is located.

C. C, represent switch sections arranged between the ends of the sections A, A, and the sections B, B.. Each of the sections A, A, B. B, and C, C, is preferably made up of suitable side rails 2,. 2 diagonally arranged brace rods 3, 3 and rollers 4, 4, which are mounted by ball bearings upon suitable axles supported in the side rails. These rollers are arranged close enough together so as to prevent boxes or other articles designed to be transported over the carrier from dropping down between the I have.

rollers. Each of the sections C, C, has its ends coinciding with the ends of the stationary sections A and B, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. One end of each section C is pivoted to the end of the stationary section A. Any suitable means for pivoting the parts together may be employed. I prefer to provide projecting lugs 7 and 8 upon the sections A and C respectively, and to connect these by a suitable pivot pin '9. The opposite end of each section 0 is provided with bearing wheels 10, 10 and these wheels rest upon a horizontal stationary rail 11. In normal conditions the ends of the sections C, C, coincide with the ends of the sections B, B and the material passing over the section C will be received upon the corresponding section B.

In some instances it is desirable to move the switch section C so that the article coming over the right-hand section A will be delivered to the left-hand section B, or an article coming over theleft-hand section A will be delivered to the right-hand section B. To secure these results the free ends of the sections C are moved, with the wheels 10 traveling on the rail 11, and thereby moving one of the switch sections C out of operative connection with either of the sections B, B, and moving the other section G into alinement with the opposite section B, as shown in Fig. 2. By this meansthe switch sections are reversed, and an article traveling over the right-hand switch section C willbe delivered to the left-hand section A. Ifthe switch is moved in the other direction the article traveling over the left-hand section C will reach the right-hand stationary section A.

I prefer to provide means for locking the movable switch sections in any position to which they may be moved. As here shown I have provided a hasp or hook 13 pivoted of the switch section. The parts may be similarly locked when the switch is moved in the. opposite. direction. The two switch sections are connected by a suitable tie-rod 12 (see Fig.

In some instances I provide guard rails 15 arranged above and parallel to the side rails of the switch section. These guard rails do do not form a part of my present invention and they may obviously be omitted if desired.

The rolls of the carrier may obviously be placed at any desired distance apart, and

the details of the construction of the device ble carrier sections, of a pair of parallel intermediate and independently pivoted sections, each having one end connecting with one of the fixed carrier sections, and the other end movable and capable of being moved into alinement with either of the other fixed sections, and means for locking said intermediate sections in any position to which they may be moved.

3. The combination, in a gravity carrier system, with oppositely arranged fixed double carrier sections, of a pair of parallel intermediate and indepem'lently pivoted sections, each having one end connecting with one of the fixed carrier sections, and the other end movable and capable of being moved into alinement with either of the other fixed sections, wheels supporting the free ends of the intermediate sections, and means for locking said free ends of saidintermediate sections in any desired positions, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of September, 1914.

HERMAN J. BUCK.

\Vitnesses Jos. IV. Hmrrnnnr, L. G. TINGWALL, Sr. 

